Today was such a wonderful day- start to finish- and I know it is because God had totally answered my prayer and let me see the world from a heavenly perspective and worked on my attitude. (Please don't think that I'm some moody, tudy, fresh and fruity girl. I don't think I have major attitude problems but I know I can be negative when He wouldn't want me to be.) Nothing spectacular happened on this terrific Tuesday, no major voting took place, but God intervened and gave me a good attitude which enabled me to thoroughly enjoy every hour of my day. I found myself smiling and chuckling to myself throughout the day and knew that every day could be like this if I have the right attitude. The following is my schedule from Tuesday, February 12, which is what a typical Tuesday is like.
6:00- Alarm went off. Hit snooze 8 times.
6:40- Kicked the mosquito net out of my way and and rolled out of bed.
7:00- Caught my ride to school with three of my students. Rolled the window down to let the mosquitoes out but mainly because I like a breeze in the morning and enjoy pretending to be a dog riding in a car with my head out the window.
7:15- Prayed for the school and for 4 students with other teachers. Love this tradition and would love to start it with fellow Christians at Rowland.
7:30- Hung out in the computer lab and wrote the test I would be administering a few hours later. I confess that I am a total hypocrite when it comes to procrastination. I thought it would pass after college but it's only gotten worse.
8:15- Taught my 9th/10th English class. Today I finally realized that I am actually enjoying teaching grammar! This in itself is a small miracle because I was dreading it so much
but I am a student-at-heart and love learning new things so I really am enjoying learning how to diagram sentences and recognize predicate nomatives, appositives, verbals, gerands, etc. There was a moment when I was explaining how to recognize an indirect and direct object when Peter, who has flunked every grammar test, exclaimed, "I think I actually understand this!" Ahhh- this is why I love teaching- getting to watch the moment when the light bulb turns on, such precious moments.9:15- Taught my 9th/10th Economics class. Yet another subject that I dreaded like getting Malaria but it hasn't been too painful. However, a parent asked me what we learned about in econ that day and I said, "Ummm...chapter 3." Real comforting I'm sure- since when are parents allowed to quiz the teachers?? I was not prepared:)
10:00- Had "break" aka- "snack" as I always called it. Was starving for lunch already and ate stale cookies. Looked at the clock and realized it was midnight at home which
meant Lesley Miller just turned 26! Thanked the Lord for amazing friends like Lesley and chuckled to myself picturing Lesley speaking in her man voice, playing "lava-monster," doing awkward/awesome dance moves, clapping at weddings, and singing "Crucified" quite sacreligiously. Love you Lesley! (fyi- for a few months our junior year we decided to take all pictures with the double thumbs up- can't remember why. )10:15- Taught my 11th/12th US History class. We're learning about the Depression and my three boys have started to get "TC" for school but were all super interested in the Depression. (TC means "too cool") They asked tons of very inquisitive questions about what happened to the banks and stock market and laughed way too hard when I made them pull out their pockets and explained that empty pockets were called, "Hoover Flags." I didn't intend for this to be funny so I was pleasantly surprised that they were so entertained by random historical trivia. We've also been watching clips from Cinderella Man and they/I am loving it! Ok, that was a small lie but I'll fess up- we're not watching "clips." We watched the whole thing and I tried to do it somewhat secretively because the school is so conservative I wasn't sure if they would allow boxing scenes and I think they frown on showing whole movies but it's such a great one and it stimulated even more questions about the Depression. Of course, the movie made me cry as it always does which created an awkward moment when Neel asked me something about the movie right as I was crying and I tried to answer but was clearly choked up.
11:00- Relaxed during my prep period. Couldn't fight the hunger any longer and did my daily "BP run" to grab juice and my favorite chocolate. (I was ridiculed the other day when I said BP is my favorite spot for lunch. Who doesn't enjoy lunch an elegant meal at the gas station?) I also stopped by the "fresh popcorn" stand where a man on the corner sells hot bags of kettle corn for about 10 cents. If teaching doesn't work out, I may need to open one of these on a corner in Brea.
11:45- Taught 7th/8th World History. This was a simple day since they took the test on the Reformation and Thirty Years' War but we reviewed a bit beforehand and the kids were actually prepared for the test! Another simple joy of teaching. Mauricio is learning English this year and couldn't hold a conversation at the beginning of the
year, yet he was able to write a half-page explaining what Martin Luther believed. It is so fun to watch kids progress! I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching this unit since I know the bare minimum about the Reformation and have decided Martin Luther is my new hero. I considered naming my son "Martin" but then I immediately think of that obnoxious show called "Martin" and realize that option is out. If that just sounded like a birth announcement, I apologize, but yes, I think about my future children and their possible names. (I'm obviously hurting for visuals on this entry that I have resorted to taking a picture of Mauricio's test)12:30- Left on the bus with the 5th/6th graders to go to the pool. Before leaving, the icecream man walked by the school and I made one of the kids sneak and buy me an popsicle. I'm not 100% sure this is against school rules but it wouldn't surprise me, hence the "sneaking." The kids cracked up when Mocha, our guard dog, jumped on the bus- I don't blame her for wanting to cool off- it was pretty warm today. Rode through town on the bus in my normal "dog out the window" posture, enjoying the sites and sounds of Maputo in the afternoon. This class loves playing "sweet and sour" on these bus rides and smile at the people on the streets to see if they will be
sweet or sour. Thumbs up and/or a smile makes them sweet but every other response is "sour." I am thoroughly entertained by these kids.12:50- Arrived at the Oasis pool to teach the 5th/6th class and then the 3rd/4th class. Today I taught many of them how to dive for the first time. I have never seen so many belly flops in my life! Of course I had to laugh after every
one and I got some weird looks from the other people at the pool but come on, belly flopping is funny. My great words of wisdom as they prepared to jump in head-first: "Pretend God has a string tied to your butt and He pulls it up every time you jump." Verita was especially excited to learn to dive and when she finally got it down, her look of pride and sheer joy was enough to make me tear up. I of course had flashbacks to when my dad taught us all how to
dive. I have a vivid memory of Heidi standing on the diving board and with my dad holding a giant pole out in front of her, forcing her to jump over it and she was nearly in tears. We also learned how to flip under the water and push off the wall. I was quite fearful that when I tried to demonstrate I would be unable to do this but it turned out alright. Stephen is an awesome swimmer and he quickly perfected the flip. He told me, "I've always wanted to learn how to do that!" and I was reminded again why I love teaching. We played our usual rendition of freeze tag and then sang and made silly
faces on the bus ride home.
2:30- Arrived back at school and hung out in computer lab, checking e-mails and finishing lesson plans. My only Mozambican friend also uses this time right after school to use the internet and we've had some great conversations. We had an awesome talk about God's mercy verses His justice and who would be in heaven. We then talked about his struggles of being an African man who is single- and I thought I had pressure to get married! 3:30- Tried to leave campus but some kids convinced me to play a 2 on 2 basketball game with them. So for my second time here, I hiked up my skirt and played and it was so much fun. Of course I got competitive and "talked sternly" to my teammate about getting to the right spot on defense. Yes, Andrew and I won. Domingos and Orlando were the competition- they are in the center in the picture. Domingos is the one who looks like he's ready to kill someone. He usually has that expression but he and I get along great although he will sometimes ask me to flex during class which is not cool.
4:30- Walked home. With my new, improved attitude, I didn't notice the incline, the trash, or the dirty air. I also wasn't annoyed by the "hey sista" and "hola mi amiga" comments and gave them sas by answering back, mimicing their tone of voice. I played my own version of "sweet or sour" and passed mostly "sweet" people. A man tried to sell me a painting of a lion which did not even look like an animal but he mistook my friendly laugh and, "Nao obrigada" to mean "I might buy your ugly painting if you follow me and repeat 'cheap price' thirty-three times." I didn't want to have to use my stern voice which scares away venders so I switched to my passive-aggresive tactics and watched on the edge of the sidewalk. Then I ran across the main highway in front of a bunch of speeding cars so he couldn't follow. I know they say being passive aggressive is wrong but sometimes it so much easier and much more entertaining. (yes, my stern voice is quite frightening and I can assure you that most of you have never heard it and hopefully never will)5:oo Stopped by my favorite bakery for bread (duh) and avoided awkward come-ons from the baker, Ernesto, then stopped by the fruit/vegetable stand on the corner for mangos and potatos. (cock roach free this time!) The woman selling was having a very animated conversation in Shanghan (local language) but it sounded like she was saying, "Ooga, booga, boooga!" which of course made me giggle.
5:10 Collapsed in my hammock and read and watched a huge storm roll in. The thunder was out-of-control crazy and it suddenly was pouring with flashes of lightening but I remained totally warm laying in my hammock. Poor Gizmo was a terrified by the thunder sounding like God's stomach growling and he hid underneath the hammock.
6:00 Made my weekly baked potato and frozen vegetables. Confession: it took me three times to finally figure out how to defrost frozen vegetables and I ended up cheating and calling for help. Apparently it is such an obvious task that they don't write directions for defrosting in a microwave but I DESTROYED two helpings of frozen pees without any directions. Common sense and cooking are two things that do not go hand in hand for me.
7:00 Talked to my family via skype. My mom just had her gall bladder removed and now she is doing wonderfully!!! I guess we don't need it all that much anyways which I'm glad to hear since I will probably have to have mine removed one day. I love when I get a good connection and am able to get updates on home.
8:00 Power went out because of storm so I borrowed an oil lamp from my neighbor, Henrik, and really felt like Laura Ingles. I lit the house up with candles which was so easy feat for me since I struggling lighting matches- I always end up burning my finger before I get the wick to catch. I worked on my computer until the battery died and then the power came back on just as I was getting ready for bed.
In a perfect world my devotions today would be about attitude, but living in Mozambique, I am daily reminded that we most certainly do NOT live in a perfect world. However, I was reading an exerpt from writings from Ignatius Loyola (founder of the Jesuits) since we just learned about him in class and found his words so insightful that I must share them for my "Danny Tanner moment." Loyola wrote about 3 reasons we are in "desolation" and don't feel God's presence. It was amazing to me that this man who lived in the 16th century and was a devout Catholic in the Counter-Reformation, would write words that I could relate with so much.
"There are three reasons why we are in desolation. The first is because we have been tepids, slothful, or negligent in our Spiritual Exercises, and so through our own fault spiritual consolation is withdrawn from us. (Indeed the days when I am not spending time in prayer and reading God's word, I obviously don't feel His closeness.)
The second is that God may try to test our worth, and the progress that we have made in his service and praise when we are without such generous rewards of consolation and special graces. (I went through this in college when God withdrew His presence for seemingly no reason but it is only through that experience that I truly began to understand faith and choosing to serve God even when I don't feel or see Him merely because He is worthy and not because it makes me feel good.)
The third is that he may wish to give us a true knowledge and understanding so that we may truly perceive that it is not within our power to acquire or retain great devotion, ardent love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation, but that all of this is a gift and a grace of God our Lord. Nor does God wish us to claim as our own what belongs to another, allowing our intellect to rise up in a spirit of pride or vainglory, attributing to ourselves the devotion or other aspects of spiritual consolation. (I've experienced this in more recent years and even here on the mission field when God has withdrawn and I learned that it was not by my strength and my works or my discipline that I was close to God. Yes, I am supposed to draw near to God but I also must realize that His drawing near to me is a gift and it is done by His works- I can't manipulate Him and I can't feel proud of "my accomplishment" when I do feel His presence.)
My February 12th, 2008 was a day when I was blessed with God's sweet and amazing gift of His presence. He also answered my prayer and adjusted my attitude and I realized that I can be a grumpy jerk with an "orange cat attitude" without Him.
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